suez in the red sea . this diversion of british resources created gaps in the coverage in merchant shipping and ser ##cey was able to send the frigate pre ##ne ##use and corvette br ##ule @ - @ gu ##eu ##le to manila late in the year to join the repaired spanish squadron . at the beginning of february 1799 , this combined force sailed to macau , taking the british defences by surprise . the british commander captain william ha ##rgo ##od counterattack ##ed , advancing on the franco @ - @ spanish force which retreated during the day and disappeared under cover of darkness that evening in the wan ##shan archipelago . the combined squadron then dispersed and the china fleet was not attacked again until
suez in the red sea. this diversion of british resources created gaps in the coverage in merchant shipping and sercey was able to send the frigate preneuse and corvette brule @ - @ gueule to manila late in the year to join the repaired spanish squadron. at the beginning of february 1799, this combined force sailed to macau, taking the british defences by surprise. the british commander captain william hargood counterattacked, advancing on the franco @ - @ spanish force which retreated during the day and disappeared under cover of darkness that evening in the wanshan archipelago. the combined squadron then dispersed and the china fleet was not attacked again until